File photo Nutcrackers portraying Dean Martin and the Rat Pack stand across from the Jefferson County Courthouse in the Steubenville Nutcracker Village in 2024.

STEUBENVILLE — The city will come alive this week with the sounds and memories of the Cocktail Cool Era.

The 30th-annual Dean Martin Hometown Festival will run Thursday through June 20, with a wide variety of activities, including historical perspectives; the showing of a restored version of the classic Martin-Jerry Lewis film “At War with the Army;” a car cruise; the annual Dino Dash; tours of Historic Fort Steuben; open houses at the Jefferson County Historical Museum; tributes to the old variety shows, talent shows and telethons; and, of course, music and entertainment — lots of music and entertainment.

From the opening event at 4 p.m. Thursday — a meet-and-greet at 7 Ranges in the Fort Steuben Mall that will feature tribute artists Lee Dean and Jeff Grainger, the meatball eating contest and memorabilia auction — through the final event — a performance by Tom Stevens and Friends that will begin at 8 p.m. June 20 at the Spot Bar — the festival has something for fans of all ages.

The Spot Bar will be the location of several events, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday with the annual karaoke contest, featuring DJ Paulie Walnutz. At 8 p.m. Friday, Joe Scalissi will take the stage. June 20 performances are set for 1 p.m. by the Youngstown-based Cugines, at 2 p.m. by Dave Salera and at 8 p.m. by Stevens.

“I’m really excited about the Cugines — they are pretty good. They are real Italians,” said Jo Jo DiAlbert, owner of the Spot Bar.

DiAlbert said the music and atmosphere keep people coming back for the events each year.

“Over the years, they have had the chance to meet different people from different areas and become friends. They look forward to being able to reunite with them,” he explained. “Thay said it’s a good time.”

He added that the number of Martin fans continues to grow.

“We’re getting more and more younger people who are getting into the Martin music and are showing up,” DiAlbert said.

Thursday’s activities will include the kickoff concert at 7 p.m. at the Berkman Amphitheater featuring the Rat Pack Tribute show and the Vince Villanova Big Band.

Friday’s events include the second-annual Dean Martin Association Golf Scramble at the Steubenville Country Club; games trivia and fun at the Main Branch of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County at 10 a.m., followed by Bob Furmanek’s discussion about remastering at 11:30 a.m. and showing of “At War with the Army” at 1:30 p.m.; a presentation by Keith Johnson about Martin’s athletic ability at noon at the museum; a car cruise from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the fort; A Touch of Dino at 3 p.m. at Chesterton and Co. Cigars; supper club events at 5 p.m. at Pastaio in Wintersville and Scaffidi’s in the Hollywood Plaza; with Scalissi closing out the evening.

Events June 20 begin with the Dino Dash at 9 a.m. in Beatty Park; the Honor Flight Columbus Tribute at 10 a.m. at the Berkman Amphitheater; Scalissi performing at 1 p.m. at Undo’s in Weirton; the Cugines at 1 p.m. and Salera at 2 p.m. at the Spot Bar; the MDA Benefit Amateur Hour at the Sycamore Youth Center at 3 p.m.; a supper club event at 4 p.m. at Froehlich’s Classic Corner; and Stevens and Friends at 8 p.m. at the Spot Bar.

“Everything we are doing is to remind people who Dean Martin was,” said Cindy Williford, president of the Dean Martin Association of America, who has organized the festival. “We’re teaching, we’re educating people who just really admire who he was. We hope people can see the deeper side of him, a side that he wasn’t just an entertainer.”

Born June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Martin would become one of the most recognized and respected entertainers of all time. His talents were on display in every medium, from radio to recordings, from movies to television. He also was heavily involved in charity work. Martin died on Christmas Day in 1995 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Saturday’s Honor Flight show will feature Michelle Della Fave, who performed on “The Dean Martin Show” and as one of Martin’s Golddiggers.

Saturday afternoon’s show at the Sycamore Youth Center will be special, Williford said.

“It’s called the 1936 Amateur Hour-MDA event,” she said. “This is something that goes back to 1936, when Dean stood on the stage at the old Capitol Theater in a talent show and won. That was 90 years ago.”

Bobbjon Bauman, director of the Sycamore Center, has lined up kids who will perform, she said.

“The Muscular Dystrophy Association was very near and dear to Dean’s heart,” Williford added. “I want that when people who attend the festival walk away, they know a little bit more about Dean Martin — Dino Crocetti — and what he was involved in.”

The festival schedule includes:

Thursday

• 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Happy hour, meet-and-greet, meatball eating contest and auction, 7 Ranges at the Fort Steuben Mall

• 7 p.m.: Festival kickoff and concerts featuring the Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra Tribute, and the Vince Villanova Big Band, Berkman Amphitheater at Historic Fort Steuben

• 8 p.m.: Karaoke contest with DJ Paulie Walnutz, the Spot Bar, 217 S. Fourth St., Steubenville

Friday

• 8:30 a.m.: Second-annual Dean Martin Association Golf Scramble, Steubenville Country Club

• 10 a.m.: Martin and Lewis: Giggles and Games (trivia games and fun); 11:30 a.m.: Bob Furmanek: Remembering, Remastering and Restoring; 1:30 p.m.: Special screening of “At War with the Army;” all events at the Main Branch of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County (events held in conjunction with America 250-Ohio Goes to the Movies)

• Noon-4 p.m.: Keith Johnson: The Roots of Dean’s Natural Abilities, Jefferson County Historical Museum

• 2 p.m.- 6 p.m.: Car cruise-in, Historic Fort Steuben

• 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: A Touch of Dino, Chesterton and Co. Cigars

• 5 p.m.: 1917 Supper Club of Steubenville at Pastaio Cucina Rustica Italiana, 725 Main St., Wintersville, and Scaffidi’s Restaurant and Tavern, 330 S. Hollywood Drive, Steubenville

• 8 p.m.: Joe Scalissi Sings Dean Martin, the Spot Bar

June 20

• 7:30 a.m.: Registration for Dino Dash 5k (race starts at 9 a.m.), Historic Beatty Park, 621 Lincoln Ave,

•10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Honor Flight Columbus Tribute with special guest Michelle Della Fave, Berkman Amphitheater, Historic Fort Steuben

• 11:30 a.m.: Joe Scalissi, Undo’s, Weirton

• 1 p.m.: The Cugines, the Spot Bar

• 2 p.m.: Dave Salera, the Spot Bar

• 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: MDA Benefit Event, Sycamore Youth Center, 301 N. Fourth St.

• 5 p.m.: 1917 Supper Club of Steubenville with special guest Michelle Della Fave, Froehlich’s Classic Corner, 501 Washington St.

• 8 p.m.: Tom Stevens and Friends, the Spot Bar

(The Jefferson County Historical Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Historic Fort Steuben will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.)